My Conviction

You know kids, I wish every mom

and dad would make a speech to their

teenagers and say kids, be free,

be whatever you are, do whatever you

want to do, just so long as you don't hurt anybody.

And remember kids,

I am your friend.

I would just like to say that it is my conviction

That longer hair and other flamboyant affectations

Of appearance are nothing more

Than the male's emergence from his drab camoflage

Into the gaudy plumage

Which is the birthright of his sex

There is a peculiar notion that elegant plumage

And fine feathers are not proper for the male

When ac---tually

That is the way things are

In most species